Current control device



Aug. 23, 1932. K. WRIGHT CURRENT CONTROL DEVICE Filed March 1, 1928 150 /1/20 rf Mam/Yr MMZW abbomcq Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED, sures PATENT OFFICE LEON 1RD KAY WRIGHT, OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, LONG ISLAND, mrw YORK CURRENT CONTROL DEVICE Application filed larch 1, 1828. Serial 1T0. 258,859.

This invention relates to an electrical apparatus and more particularly has reference to a current control device.

The devices heretofore employed to estab- 5 lish or break a circuit have been of intricate and costly construction, necessitating an elaborate arrangement. Much difficulty has also been experienced in maintaining these devices in operation, especially where the device is 1 sub'ected to shocks and jars such as are met un or transportation conditions.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for establishing and breaking an electrical current.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch of the mercury type that is economical and easy to construct.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a circuit control device that may be 29 subjected to rigorous service without impairing its efliciency.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a current control device that may be readily installed.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide a current control device that makes or breaks a circuit rapidly and in which an arc incident thereto is quenched. To accomplish the above objects and other 39 important objects as will more fully appear,

my invention in general comprises self-contained means for establishing a circuit between two wires, and other means for positively moving the first mentioned means whereby the circuit is broken and another circuit established.

To insure an adequate comprehension of my invention, but wishing it to be distinctly understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims, reference is made to the accompanying drawing of a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which similar numerals indicate the same elements:

Fig. 1 is a rear view in elevation of my invention, with the pivoted part in one position;

Fig. 2 is a rear view in elevation with the pivoted member in the opposite position;

. Fig. 3 is a front view in elevation of my invention;

Fig. 4 a sectional view along the line 44 of Flg. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view 0.1011 the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 looking in the directlon of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view in detail of the stop.

In more particularity, the preferred form of my invention comprises a support plate 1, having downwardly extending pro'ections 2 and 3. This support plate is provided with. an end flange 4, shown in Fig. 4, in which there is drilled an aperture 5 adapted to receive a screw, bolt or other fastening means. In the crotch between the projections 2 and 3 there is provided on the support member 1 a stop 6 extendin in the opposite direction to the flange 4. other stop 7 is also provided on the support member 1.

The metal parts of my invention may be stamped or ot erwise formed, although I find the preferable method of constructing the device is by stamping. A semi-circular plate 8 is provided, which is pivoted by means of a bolt 9 or other suitable means to the lower extremity of the projection 3. There is stamped from the pivoted member 8 a semicircle 11, and the extrated portion is bent u as shown at 12 in Fig. 3. A half moon 13 is also stamped from the pivoted member and the portion remaining bent as at 14. The tongue 14 is provided with an aperture adapted to receive a flexible rod 15.

Sto s 16 and 17 are provided on the periphcry 0 the member 8, and take the form of flanges extending at right angles to the body portlon. The member 8 may be swung about its pivot 9 in an arc, but the extent of this movement is limited by the stops 6 and 7, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 the front of the member 8 is provided with the stamped portion 12 bent back as heretofore described. A straight edge 18 of the member 8 is also provided with an extended portion 19 bent on the same side of the member 8 as the part 12. Secured by the members 12 and 19 in a substantially horizontal plane, when the member 8 is allowed to rest on its'pivot 9, is a container 20. A rubber sleeve 21, as shown in Fig. 4, ma partially surround the container 20 -in or er to afford a cushion for the container, and prevent the uneven grasp of the container 20 by the members 12 and 19.

The container 20 has fused diametrically in it a sup ort member 22, composed of material adapte to conduct an electrical current. The member 22 supports within the contamer 20 a curved arm 23. The arm 23 is of substantially arcuate shape and extends towardeach end of the container. Attached by suitable means to the support 22 is an electrical wire 24.

There is also fused in one end of the container 20 a contact post 25, to which is joined a wire 26. The contact or binding post 25 supports a conductor 27 which extends to within a short distance of one end of the arm 23. In the opposite end of the container 20 there is another bindin post 28 connected to a wire 29, on which blnding post there is also supported within the container 20 a conductor 31. It will be observed that in this instance also, the conductor 31 and adjacent end of the arm 23 are slightly spaced apart.

The container 20 may be evacuated of air and partially filled with mercury 30, or the mercury 30 may be inserted within the container and an inert gas under ressure also injected in the container. I d that the latter method is referable where the container is subjected to a comparatively hi h external pressure. The inert gas also ten%s to quench the are when breakin contact andalso prevents oxidation of'meta within the container 20. The amount ofmercury to be inserted in the container should be substantially as shown in Fig. 3, so that when the container is tilted in one position the end of either the conductor 27 or the conductor 31 and the adjacent end of the arm 23 are immersed in the mercury. In this way a current may pass from the arm 23 to either one of the conductors 27 or 31, depending upon the osition of container 20.

Pivoted on the lower end of the projection 2 is a lever 32. A pivot 33 passes through the lever 32 into the projection 2, permitting oscillation of the lever 32. At the end of the lever 32 remote from the member 8 is a rod 34, bent at its end as shown at 35 in Fig. 5. 'Ilhe bent portion 35 passes through an aperture in the lever 32, and is suitably secured thereto by mushrooming its tip or by other appropriate means. Although my invention may be used in various connections, I find it particularly adapted to control a current in a fixed relationship to the level of a body of liquid. In such a connection a float may be fixed on the rod 34, thus imparting a vertical movement to the .rod. Or the float may be slidably mounted on the rod, and beads may be provided on the rod so that the rise and fall of the float is unrestricted within certain limits, but beyond which the rod 34 is raised or lowered.

At the end of the lever 32 adjacent the member 8, there is provided a flange'36, disposed at right angles to the arm of the lever and extending laterally thereof. The flange 36 presents two arcuate contacting surfaces which engage successively lugs 16 and 17 on the member 8. On the arm of the lever 32 adjacent the member 8 there is secured a stud 37. The resilient rod or wire 15, heretofore referred to, is wrapped about the stud 37 and one end thereof secured fixedly to the lever 32 as at 38. As will be observed in Fig. 1, the other end of the flexible rod 15 extends through the aperture provided in the half-moon 14.

From the foregoing the operation of my device is obvious. As above pointedout, the container 20 is adapted to establish either one of two circuits, in which the wires 26 and 29 respectively form parts and the wire 24 is common to both circuits. When the member 8 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, which is the same as in Fig. 3, a circuit is established between wires 24 and 29.

When it is desired to change the circuit, the rod 34 is raised, and the flange 36 is removed from engagement with the lug 17, and there is concomitantly an increase in the flexure of the rod 15. This'tends to rotate the member 8 toward the position shown in Fig. 2, and in so doing the mercury 30 with- -in the container 20 flows to the opposite end of the container where it immerses the arm 23 and the conductor 27. A circuit is now established between the wire 24 and the wire 26.

,When it is desired to return the member 8 to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the rod 34 is lowered, and the rod 15 is bellied .-as shown in Fig. 2. This creates a pressure on the member 8, tending to force the member to the position shown in Fig. 1.

It is to be noted that my device provides a means whereby the rotation of the member 8 on its pivot is by a snap movement. It

will be observed that the lever 32 is capable of considerable oscillation on its pivot but at the same time preventing any movement ofthe member 8. This is accomplished by the flange 36, for during the rotation of the lever 32 the flexure of the spring 15 is increased, but the flange 36, contacting with either the lug 16 or the lug 17 prevents for a given movement of the lever 32 any corres nding movement of the member 8." When t e flange 36 disengages either the lug 16 or the lug 17 the spring 15 has built up a considerable flexure, so that the resulting movement of the pivoted member 8 is sudden and rapid. The pivoted member 8 therefore is snapped from one position to the other.

This not only makes for more eflicient operation, thus diminishing the interval during which neither circuit is established, but also curtails the formation of an arc incident to the making or breaking of a circuit. The mercury 30 and the inert gas compressed within the container 20, also provide additional means for quenching any are that might tend to be formed in the operation of my device.

It is of course obvious that my invention may be used where only one circuit is used, and it is desired either to establish or break only that circuit.

It will be observed that I have provided a current control device that is economical of manufacture and easily constructed. Its efficiency is assured, and the need of repair is greatly diminished over the devices heretofore in use. Its snap-like action is a considerable advantage over the prior devices, and the quenching of the arc is especially desirable in certain types of work.

While I have shown in detail in the accompanying drawing and described herein one embodiment of my invention, this is to be taken as exemplary merely, for various modifications may be made in the device described without exceeding the scope of the appended claims, by which alone, in view of the prior art, my invention is to be limited.

I claim 1. An oscillating snap switch comprising a base member having a plurality of projections stamped therefrom, a plate pivotally secured to one of said projections and having portions stamped therefrom to form a support, stops formed on said base member to limit the pivoting movement of the plate, a lever pivotally connected to the other of the projections, a flexible rod fixedly secured to the lever and passing through an aperture formed in a bent-away portion of the plate to produce snap-like movement, a container mounted in the support, electrical contacts fixed in the container and a conducting fluid adapted to cover the contacts when in either position.

2. -An oscillating snap switch comprising a base member having a plurality of projections stamped therefrom, a platepivotally .secured to one of said projections and hav-' ing portions stamped therefrom to form a support, stops formed on said base member to limit the pivoting movement of the plate, a lever pivotally connected to the other of the projections, said lever having a flange for engagement with the plate, a rod connected to said lever for actuatlng same, a flexible rod fixedly secured to the lever and passing through an aperture formed in a bent-away portion of the plate to produce snap-like movement, a container mounted in the support, electrical contacts fixed in the container and a conducting fluid adapted to cover the contacts when in either position.

3. An oscillating snap switch comprising a base member having a plurality of projections stamped therefrom, a plate pivotally secured to one of said projections and having portions stamped therefrom to form a support, stops formed on said base member to limit the pivoting movement of the plate, a lever pivotally connected to the other of the projections, said lever having a flange for engagement with the plate, a rod connected to said lever for actuating same, a flexible rod fixedly securedto the lever and passing through an aperture formed in a bent-away portion of the plate to produce snap-like movement, a container mounted in the support, electrical contacts fixed in the container and a conducting fluid adapted to cover the contacts when in either position, said base member having an integral flange for suspending the snap switch.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si ature.

LEONARD KAY WRI HT. 

